Battle of Alberta AGAIN! VS Calgary Feb 19
It’s a back to back vs the Flames. I know I hate them! I know you hate them! It is time for a little back to back vs the Flames!
I will keep this short! It is the Oilers vs Flames, these two teams have a lot of animosity between them. The Flames lost the last game vs Vancouver 5-1. Markstrom thought he was Hasek on a couple of times and it burned him! These two teams are fighting to claim a playoff spot in the North division this year.
The top two lines are clicking for the Oil in the last couple of games. Connor McDavid hit the 500 point plateau last game and Leon Draisaitl Scored twice in the 3-2 victory over the Jets! You know the Flames will be keying in in these two guys all game.
Oilers (10-8)
Nuge - McDavid - Puljujarvi
Ennis - Draisaitl - Yamamoto
Kahun - Khaira - Archibald
Turris - Haas. -Chaisson
Nurse - Barrie
Russell - Larsson
Koekkoek - Bouchard
Smith
I am assuming that Smith will start the first of the back to back. Ethan Bear might be ready to slot in while Bouchard heads to the left side of the defence. Get this! The Oilers are 6-2 in their last 8 games and in that time secondary scoring has been a key part in it! It is nice to see some secondary scoring this year as it only boosts the offence. The problem is defence! The Edmonton Oilers are 1st in the NHL in goals for! However they are 28th in goals for. At some point you have to balance that out and keep the puck out of your net. Especially in rivalry games like these ones.
Flames (8-7-1)
Gaudreau - Monahan - Simon
Tkachuk - Lindhold - Mangiapane
Lucic - Backlund - Dube
Nordstrom - Froese - Bennett
Giordano - Valimaki
Hanifin - Tanev
Nesterov - Andersson
Markstrom
Markstrom had a tough game vs Vancouver. I see him bouncing back and having a solid game tonight. If the Oilers have a chance at winning it is getting to Markstrom. He was 2-2 vs Vancouver in the 4 game set. Posted some big numbers including a game where he only let in 1 goal. Now, this being a back to back, will we see Rittich in the first game? Maybe. Regardless, you have to get to the goaltenders quickly and shoot often!
3 Oil Drops for Victory
Make sure you get in Markstrom’s Kitchen. Undoubtably, Jacob Markstrom has been the best Calgary Flame this year. .918 sv% and in the last couple of weeks since playing the Oilers last on Feb 6. He has been solid. You have to get to him early and often.
Play Tough. It is the battle of Alberta so I don’t see this being a problem but you know what to expect. Tough, gritty hockey out of both teams and of course fast pace!
Top Players, Play like top players. Connor McDavid is going to be his same self. Leon Draisaitl will also be his same self. You can say the sam about Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. It will come down to which top players come to play this game and next!
Who comes out on top in the two Battle of Alberta Games??
Comments